Process of removing finish coatings from floors



A ril 27, 1926. 1,582,773

R. E. NASH PROCESS OF REMOVING FINISH COATINGS FROM FLOORS Filed Nov. 1924 flu neg Patented Apr.- 27, 1926.

nAizmoNn E. NASH, or WASHINGTON, msrnrc'r or COLUMBIA.

I PROCESS OF REMOVING FINISH COATINGS FROM FLOORS.

Application filed NovemberS, 1924. Serial No. 748,696.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, RAYMOND E. .NASH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,-

have invented aProcessof Removing Finish Coatings from Floors, of which the following is a specification.

In the treatment of floors having an old surface coating which will prevent a good appearance being obtained by the simple application of a new finishing coat of var nish or wax it is customary to entirely remove the old surface coating so that the exposed surface of the wood may receive varnish and wax as in the caseof a new floor; and of course it is-desirable in order to secure the best results and give the appearance of a new floor that the surface of ,the wood be left not only clean butsmooth and uninjured by the removal of the old surface coating without the necessity of scraping or planing. It is common practice to remove old surface coatings from floors by the use of a varnish and wax remover which will act to soften the'old coating and permit it to be removed by the use of a brush,'in some 'instancesa rotating brush operated by electricity being employed, but in practice I have found that the ordinary methods used for the purpose are notaltogether satisfactory, with respect to thoroughly cleaning off-the vold surface coating and leaving the exposed wood surface in the best condition for revarnishing and waxing.

The primary object of my/invention therefore is to provide improved means for the manipulation of a. varnish and paint remover, and an active solvent, in such manner that they will expeditiously remove the old surface coating without injury to the surface of the wood, in fact preparing the floor surface so that the best results are at-.

tained upon the application of a new coating of wax, varnish, or other finish; in the present instance the removal of the coating and applying the new surface coating being effected at an appreciable saving in cost of time and labor. I

. In carrying out my improvedmethod of removing an old surface coating from a floor to properly prepare it for resurfacing I preferably employ an electrically-operated machine of-a conventional type, such as ordinarily used for imparting a rotatable motionf to a brush, and employ the machine for to said washboard.

'varnish and paint remover, for example a In removing an old surface coating of shellac, varn1sh,&c., from a floor I first soften the coating with a chemical preparation ordinarilyused for this purpose, such as an approved commercial varnish and'paint remover, then a pad of steel wool is operated over the coatin by an electric machine imparting a rotating motion thereto so that it will disintegrate the coating and absorb or take up a considerable portion of the coating or practically down to the wood without injury to the surface of the latter, A; further application of a solvent, as alcohol, benzol, ether, etc, that will serve to soften the remaining part of the coating or dissolve it to a consistency that it will be readily taken up by the now .well matted pad of tool wool, and this operation of the pad wi 1 not only serve to remove all of the thoroughly dissolved surface coating but will also act to prepare the surface of the wood by smoothing it toeffectively receive the new coatings of varnish, or varnish and wax. By reference to the drawings, it will be noted that pad or pads is designated A, the new pad of steel wool is designated 5, and the well matted pad of steel wool designated 6; also that in Fig. 1 I have shown the application of a strip of tin 7, placed along the wash board to prevent the latter from being marred or injured in the operation of the pad, and at the same time permitting the .old surface coating being removed close up It will be understood that in ractising my improved method or process it is proposed to use any commercial or well known preparation containing paraffine wax (3 or 1 4 parts), benzol (20 to 30 parts), acetone (20 to 30 parts) and denatured alcohol (20 to 30 parts); or a caustic alkali solution composed of 4 lbs. lye or caustic soda gal. boiling water, 2 oz. corn starch, an gal t silicate of soda? or any other solutibn that will act on the 01d surface coating to'dissolve' the steel strands agitating or cutting the coating in a manner that it Will be absorbed 1 by said pad forming a matted pad that will not injure the surface of the Wood; in other words, I have found that by using a steel Wool pad for removing the old surface coating in the manner described results in not only cleaning the floor thoroughly of the old surface coating of varnish, shellac, or paint, but also prepares the surface of the Wood in a manner to leave it smooth for re-finishingeither by varnish and wax, shellac and Wax, or wax. Of course a number of steel pads will be required in removing an old surface coating from a floor, according to the size of the floor operated upon, but in using steel pads instead of a brush or other means heretofore employed the surface of the Wood is uninjured as the strands of steel Wool do not cut into the surface of the floor, and this form of pad also takes up the dissolved and gummy old-coat more quickly; thus providing for cleaning an old floor both expeditiously and efficiently to appreciably lessen the time required for properly revarnishing or re-finishing an old floor.

I claim: v

The process of removing finish from a floor which comprises applying to the finish a varnish and paint remover to soften the finish, removing said softened finish by means of a pad of steel Wool to which a r0- tating motion is imparted by a motor, treating the floor with a volatile agent, and again applying the steel Wool as above to clean and smooth the floor.

RAYMOND E. NASH. 

